Box capping machine

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for automatically removing box lids from a first conveyor and placing such lids on boxes carried by a second conveyor. The apparatus includes a carriage having first and second lid pickup devices in which the first lid pickup device removes a box lid from a lid holding station on the first conveyor and transfers the lid to a ready pickup station. Simultaneously the second pickup mechanism removes a box lid from the ready pickup station and places such lid on a box located at a box holding station on the second conveyor. The apparatus includes electrical and fluid systems arranged in a manner that the lids will be placed on the boxes or containers automatically without an operator being present after the apparatus has been started.

nited States Patent 1191 Lemmond et a1.

1 1 BOX CAPPING MACHINE [76] lnventors: Everett C. Lemmond, Rt. 2; JamesW. Edwards, l3l6-15th Ave., SE,

both of Decatur, Ala. 35601 [22] Filed: Nov. 13, 1972 [21] Appl. No.:306,245

1451 May 14, 1974 Primary Examiner-Travis S. McGehee AssistantExaminer--Horace M. Culver Attorney, Agent, or Firm--A. Yates Dowell,Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for automatically removing box lids from a firstconveyor and placing such lids on boxes carried by a second conveyor.The apparatus includes a carriage having first and second lid pickupdevices in which the first lid pickup device removes a boxlid from a lidholding station on the first conveyor and transfers the lid to a readypickup station. Simultaneously the second pickup mechanism removes a boxlid from the ready pickup station and places such lid on a box locatedat a box holding station on the second conveyor. The apparatus includeselectrical and fluid systems arranged in a manner that the lids will beplaced on the boxes or containers automatically without an operatorbeing present after the apparatus has been started.

15 Claims, 22 Drawing Figures PATENIEDMAY 14 i9 3.810.345

saw a or 9 FIG. l8

AIR IN FIG. 20

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This inventionrelates generally to containers of various kinds and relatesparticularly to apparatus for automatically placing a lid or cap on acontainer after the container has been filled.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the past, containers have been filledwith articles to be stored or shipped and after the articles were placedwithin the containers, either the top of the container was folded andsealed by tape, adhesive, or the like, or a separate lid was placed onthe container. Containers which are sealed normally are used one timeonly, while containers having an independent lid normally can be usedrepeatedly since the lids'c an be easily removed to permit access to thecontents of the container and after the contents 'have been removed, thelid can be reapplied.

Normally containers having lids have required that the lids be appliedmanually after the containers have been filled due to the difficulty inplacing the containers in an exact position and then mechanicallyplacing a removable lid on the container. Prior attempts toautomatically place lids on containers have resulted in the lid eitherbeing dropped accidentally or removed from the container when the lidapplying mechanism is retracted. Some examples of the prior art are U.S.Pat.

Nos. 1,809,842 Goodwin; 1,989,039 .1. R. Geyer; 2,919,532 Earnheart; and3,501,895 R. L. Geyer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION the ready pickup station and transfers such lidhorizontally and vertically to place the lid on a container located inthe fixed predetermined position at a container holding station.Thereafter the second lid pickup mechanism is retracted while the lidremains on the box or container. Preferably a first conveyor is providedfor supplying lids to the lid holding station and a second conveyor isprovided for moving filled boxes to the box holding station.

It is an object of the invention to provide a box capping machineincluding apparatus which removes a lid from one location andautomatically places such lid on a box or container in a remoteposition.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lid holding mechanismhaving portions which positively engage the lid while the lid is beingtransferred and placed on a container but which releases the lid afterthe lid has been placed on the container so that the lid remainsthereon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of theapparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation thereof.

FIG. 3 is an end elevation.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the lid holding station with the first lidpickup mechanism in non-clamping position.

FIG. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed section on the line 6--6 ofFIG. 4 with the lid holding mechanism in clamping position.

FIG. 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the ready pickup station.

FIG. 9 is a side elevation thereof.

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the lid holding and depositing mechanismwith portions broken away for clarity.

FIG. 11 is a section on the line ll--ll of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a section on the line 12-12 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the box positioning and holding station.

FIG. 14 is a section on the line 14-14 of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section on the line l515 ofFIG. 13.

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary section of the lid ready pickup stationillustrating the lid pickup mechanism moving downwardly to pick up alid.

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary section illustrating the lid being applied to abox.

FIG. 20 is a schematic perspective of the'hydraulic system.

FIGS. 21 and 21a are schematic diagrams of the electrical system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With continued reference to thedrawings, a base frame 25 is provided on which a box conveyor 26 ismounted. The conveyor 26 includes an in-feed section 27, a boxpositioning section 28, and an out-feed section 29. Asillustrated, eachof the sections of the conveyor 26 includes a plurality of rollers 30.It is recognized that substantially any other conventional type ofconveyor could be mounted on the frame 25 for moving boxes 31 or othercontainers fromone position to another. Also the rollers of each sectioncan be freely rotatably mounted so that the boxes move lengthwise of theconveyor by gravity, or as illustrated, one or more of the rollers ofeach section can be driven by a source of power.

With particular reference to FIG. 3, a power plant 32 is mounted on thebase frame 25 and drives a multiple sheave drive pulley or sprocket 33drivingly connected by a belt or chain 34 to a driven pulley or sprocket35 carried by at least one of the rollers of the in-feed section 27. Asecond belt orchain 36 drivingly connects the pulley or sprocket 33 to amulti-sheave pulley or sprocket 37 mounted on an intermediate shaft 38.A drive belt or chain assembly 39 connects the multisheave member 37with a driven pulley or sprocket 40 carried by at least one of therollers of the out-feed section 29 of the conveyor. In this manner atleast one of the rollers of the in-feed section 27 and the out-feedsection 29 is driven when the power plant 32 is in operation.

It is desirable to operate the rollers of the box positioning section 28of the conveyor independently of the in-feed and out-feed sections and,therefore, the intermediate shaft 38 is connected to a clutch 41 and theopposite side of such clutch is provided with a drive pulley or sprocket(not shown), connected by a belt or chain 42 to a pulley or sprocket 43carried by at least one of the rollers 30 of the box positioning section28.

Normally the boxes 31 are filled with articles as the boxes travel alongthe in-feed section 27 of the conveyor 26 and in some cases in which theboxes contain perishable goods, such as dressed chickens, fish, certainvegetables and the like, a refrigerant medium such as ice or solidifiedcarbon dioxide is added to the contents of the boxes as the boxes travelalong the in-feed section 27 of the conveyor.

When the filled boxes 31 are transferred from the infeed section 27 tothe box positioning section 28, it is important that the boxes bedisposed in a fixed predetermined position. In order to do this, a boxpositioning apparatus 48 is mounted on the box positioning section 28 ofthe conveyor. The positioning apparatus 48 includes a pair of box endengaging pads 49 swingably mounted on shafts 50 carried by the supportstructure for the conveyor 26. Each of the pads 49 includes an operatinglever 51 which pivotally receives one end of a link 52 and the oppositeend of each of the links is pivotally connected to opposite sides of adisk 53. Such disk is rotatably supported on a post 54 carried by thesupport structure of the conveyor 26.

A pair of box side engaging pads 55 are swingably mounted on hinges 56mounted on the conveyor support structure. Each of the side engagingpads 55 is swingably connected to one end ofa link 57 and the oppositeend of such link is swingably connected to one end of a lever 58. Suchlever is swingably mounted intermediate its ends between a pair of lugs59 welded or otherwise attached to the conveyor support structure. Theopposite end of each of the levers 58 is pivotally connected to one endofa link 60 and the opposite end of each of the links 60 is pivotallyconnected to opposite sides of the disk 53 and substantially 90 from theends of the links 52.

ln order to operate the end engaging pads 49 and the side engaging pads55 simultaneously and cause such pads to clampingly engage all foursides ofa box 31, the disk 53 is eccentrically connected to one end of apiston rod 61 carried by a fluid cylinder 62 which is swingablysupported on the conveyor support structure. When the piston rod 61 isextended, the disk 53 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, asseen in FIG. 13, and the pads 49 and 55 are retracted from the box. Whenthe piston rod 61 is retracted within the cylinder 62, the disk 53 isrotated in a clockwise direction and the pads 49 and 55 are moved intoengagement with the ends and sides of the box. If one of the end or sidepads engages the box before the cooperating end or side pad, such box ismoved slightly toward the nonengaged pad until the pressure on all fourpads is substantially equal at which time the box is located in apredetermined position.

After the box 31 has been located in a predetermined position on the boxpositioning section 28 of the conveyor 26, it is necessary to place acap or lid 65 on the box 31 to cover the contents therein. Preferablythe lid includes an upper substantially flat portion 66 having adownwardly extending flange 67 disposed entirely around the peripherythereof. Normally the inner surface of the flange 67 snugly engages theouter surface of the side walls of the box while the bottom surface ofthe upper portion 66 engages the upper edge of the open top of such boxwhen the box and top are in assembled relationship.

In order to automatically place a lid 65 on the box 31, a main frame 68is located above and generally at an angle to the base frame 25 and suchmain frame includes a plurality of upright posts 69 welded or otherwiseattached to a pair of generally parallel carriage supporting tracks 70.A lid conveyor 71 is provided adjacent to the main frame 68 and such lidconveyor has one end located below one end of the tracks 70 and theopposite end extending outwardly from the tracks and terminates at asource of supply (not shown) of preassembled lids.

The lid conveyor 71 can be of any desired construction includingperforated or non-perforated belts, chains, rollers, or the like;however, for purposes of illustration, a pair of substantially parallelbelts 72 have been provided which extend around drums 73 supported by ashaft 74 and such shaft is channeled in bearings 75 carried by the mainframe 68. The belts 72 are driven from any convenient power plant 174.

The area at the end of the belts 72 adjacent to the tracks 70constitutes a lid holding station indicated generally at 76. A pair ofspaced generally parallel guides 77 are mounted on cross bars 78connected to the main frame 68 and if desired one end 79 of each of theguides is flared outwardly to direct lids 65 into the lid holdingstation 76. A limit switch 80 having an upwardly extending trigger 81 isdisposed at one end of the lid holding station 76. The switch 80controls the power plant which drives the lid conveyor 71 so that when alid being carried by the conveyor engages the trigger 81, power will beinterrupted to the lid conveyor power plant and such lid will remain atthe lid holding station.

To remove the lid from the lid holding station 76 and place such lid ona box 31, an elongated carriage 82 is provided having a frame 83 whichis supported by a plurality of rollers 84 located within the tracks 70.The carriage 82 is reciprocated back and forth within the tracks 70 inany desired manner, as by a fluid cylinder 85 having one end connectedto the main frame 68 and having an extendable and retractable piston rod86. At one end of the carriage frame 83, a lid pickup mechanism 87 isprovided for removing a lid 65 from the lid holding station 76 andtransferring such lid to a ready pickup station 88 which will bedescribed later.

The lid pickup mechanism includes a pair of clamping members 91 hingedlyconnected to oppositesides of the carriage frame 83. Each of the members91 includes a pair of angularly disposed arms 92 spaced apart along thelength ofthe members 91 and such arms are connected together by a rod93. Each of the rods rotatably receives one end of a link 94 and theopposite ends of such links are pivotally connected to opposite ends ofa lever 95. The lever 95 is swingably mounted about a central pivot 96carried by a brace 97 fixed to the carriage frame 83.

In order to oscillate the lever 95 and move the clamping members 91 intoand out of engagement with a lid 65, a fluid cylinder 98 is supported onthe carriage frame 83 and such cylinder includes a piston rod 99 thefree end of which is swingably connected to one end of a link 100 theopposite end of which is swingably connected to the lever 95. Withparticular reference to FIGS. 4 7, it will be seen that extension of thepiston rod 99 causes the members 91 to swing away from the lid 65 andretracting the piston rod causes the members 91 to clampingly engage thelid 65.

When the lid at the lid holding station 76 is clamped by the members 91,the carriage 82 is moved in a forward direction until the lid isdisposed above the ready pickup station 88 at which time the piston rod99 is extended to permit the lid to fall by gravity onto the readypickup station.

The ready pickup station 88 includes a frame 103 having a pair of crossbars 104 supported by threaded rods 105 and such rods are adjustablymounted by nuts 106 on braces 107 carried by the main frame 58. Thecross bars 104 are located in a position to extend into the corners of alid 65 and preferably the upper ends of such cross bars are providedwith a downwardly curved portion 108 to cause the lid 65 to slide downthe curved portion 108 in case the lid does not fall straight whenreleased by the clamping members 91. The frame 103 is adjustable to anydesired elevation merely be adjusting the nuts 106 on the rods 105. Whena lid 65 is supported by the frame 103, substantially the entire lengthof the downwardly extending flanges 67 of such lid are free ofobstructions.

In order to remove a lid 65 from the ready pickup station 88 andpositively place such lid on a box 31, the carriage 82 is provided witha lid holding mechanism 110 at the end remote from the lid pickupmechanism 87. Such lid holding mechanism includes a supporting frame 11having a generally rectangular wall structure 112 defining a hollowsubstantially rectangular housing which is open at the top and bottom.The free end of the piston rod 86 is swingably mounted to a pivot 114carried by lugs 115 mounted on one side of the wall structure 112.

A pair of longitudinal bridges 116 span the hollow frame 11 1 and arewelded or otherwise fixed to the wall structure 112 at opposite sides ofsuch frame. To each of the bridges 116 are mounted a pair of generallyparwhich includes a downwardly extending piston rod 1 18. A pair ofinverted U-shaped support members 119 are fixed to the lower ends of thepiston rods 118 and extend generally transversely of the frame 111. Thesupport members are disposed generally normal to the bridges 116 in sucha manner that the intermediate portion of one of the support members isconnected to the I two forward cylinders 1 17 and the intermediateportion of the other support member is connected to the two rearcylinders. Opposite downwardly extending ends of each of the U-shapedsupport members 1 19 are welded or otherwise attached to a substantiallyrectangular ring 121. Operation of the cylinders 117 raises and lowersthe ring 121 in a substantially vertical direction and in order to guidethe ring 121 during the vertical movement, a post 122 is welded orotherwise attached to each corner of the ring and each of such posts isslidably mounted in a sleeve 123 carried by the wall structure 112.

A pressure plate 125 is located below each of the support members 119and each of such pressure plates allel vertically disposed fluidcylinders 117 each of stanchions 126 which extend through openings inthe:

support members 119 and are adjustably connected thereto by nuts 127. Aspring or other resilient member 128 is disposed between the pressureplates and the support members 119 to permit limited movement of thepressure plates in a generally vertical direction. The springs 128 urgethe pressure plates 125 downwardly until the nuts 127 engage the supportmembers 119 and form a stop.

At the lower end of the ring 121, a skirt 129 is welded or otherwiseattached to each side and such skirts extend downwardly and outwardlyfrom the ring. A lid engaging finger 130 is swingably connected by ahinge 131 to the lower extremity of each of the skirts 129 and each ofsuch fingers has a lower portion 132 on which the hinge is mounted andan upper portion 133 disposed at an angle to the lower portion. Each ofthe fingers 130 is provided with an' outwardly extending lug 134 bymeans of which such fingers are selectively operated.

With particular reference to FIGS. 2, 3 and 12, the fingers 130 at thefront and rear of the lid holding mechanism 110 are adapted to beoperated independently and simultaneously by fluid cylinders 135 mountedon braces 136 and such braces in turn are supported by the ring 121.Each of the cylinders 135 has a piston rod 137 the free end of which isconnected to a bracket 138. A link 139 is swingably connected at one endto the bracket 138 and the opposite end of such link is swingablyconnected to the lug 134 of the front and rear fingers.

With particular reference to FIG. 3, the fingers 130 on opposite sidesof the frame 111 are operated together by a fluid cylinder 140 having apiston rod 141 and such fluid cylinder is mounted on the ring 121. Thefree end of the piston rod 141 is swingably con-. nected to one end ofan operating link 142 the opposite end of each is swingably connected toone end of a lever 143. Such lever is swingably mounted about a pivot144 located intermediate its ends and such pivot is fixed to one of theskirts 129. Each end of the lever 143 is swingably connected to one endof a link and the opposite ends of such links are swingably connected tothe lugs 134 carried by the fingers 130 at opposite sides of the frame111. In and out movement of the piston rod 141 causes the lever 143 toswing about the pivot 144 and cause the links 145 to move inwardly andoutwardly simultaneously depending upon the direction of movement of thepiston rod. Preferably the fluid cylinders 135 and 140 are operatedsimulta* neously so that all of the fingers 130 operate together.

As illustrated best in FIG. 12, a trigger 148 is mounted on one of thesupport members 119 and such trigger includes an inwardly extendingportion 149, an upwardly extending portion 150, and an outwardlyextending portion 151. The inwardly extending portion has a lid sensingswitch 152 with a downwardly extending spring loaded probe 153associated therewith. The outwardly extending portion 151 is adapted toengage a limit switch 154 when the ring 121 is lowered to its extremeposition. The other support member 119 is provided with an outwardlyextending trigger 155 which is adapted to engage a limit switch 156 whenthe ring 121 reaches its upper extreme position.

With particular reference to FIGS. 21 and 21a, a pair of electric supplylines 160 and 161 are connected to any desired source of electricalenergy. At the beginning of operation with no lids 65 or boxes 31 in themachine, a start switch 162 (line 1) is provided and operation of suchstart switch energizes an emergency stop relay 163 (line 1) which sealsitself in through stop relay contact 163-1 (line 1 bypass) and energizesthe machine control circuit through stop relay contact 163-2 (line 2).Fluid under pressure from any conventional source is introduced into themachine and such fluid flows into the cylinders 117 and causes the ring121 to be raised until the trigger 1S5 engages the upper limit switch156 (line 9) which in turn energizes an upper limit control relay 164(line 9). A reset switch 165 (line 21) is then operated to energize acarriage reverse control relay 166 (line through normally closed reverselimit switch 167 (line 21), normally closed forward limit switch 168(line 21), and upper limit control relay contact 164-1 (line 20).

When the carriage reverse control relay 166 is energized, normallyclosed contact 166-1 (line 36) opens and normally open contact 166-2(line 37) closes and energizes solenoid valve 169 to introduce fluidinto cylinder 85 and move the carriage to the reverse position where itis ready to pick up the first lid. A lid feed conveyor switch 170 (line4) is moved to the On position. This energizes lid conveyor controlrelay 171 (line 4) through normally closed limit switch 80 (line 4) andthe normally closed contact 173-1 (line 4) oflid pickup mechanismcontrol relay 173 (line 3). Energizing lid conveyor control relay 171operates the drive motor 174 (line 44) of the lid conveyor 71 throughnormally open relay contact 171-1 (line 44) of the lid conveyor controlrelay 171 (line 4). Motor 174 drives the lid conveyor 71 to move a lidto the lid holding station 76. When the lid 65 is in position, such lidengages limit switch 80 (line 4) and opens the same to de-energize lidconveyor control relay 171 and stop the conveyor.

When the carriage reaches the reverse position, such carriage engagesand closes a reverse limit switch 176 (line 8) and energizes a reverselimit control relay 177 (line 8). When the reverse limit control relay177 is energized, normally open contacts 177-1 (line 30), 177-2 (line 3)and 177-3 (line 38) close and normally closed contacts 177-4 (line 26)and 177-5 (line 10) open. When reverse limit control contact 177-l (line30) closes, electrical energy flows to first and second timing relays178 and 179 (lines 30 and 31 respectively) and a stepper relay 180through a normally closed contact 183-1 (line 30) of reset control relay183 (line 22). The stepper relay 180 has a first wafer 181 (lines 17-20)and a second wafer 181 (lines & 26). Energizing the stepper relay 180causes wafers 181 and 182 to move to the first position.

After a one-tenth second delay, normally open timing relay contact 178-1(line 3) closes and energizes the lid pickup mechanism control relay 173(line 3) through limit switch 80 (line 3), which closes when a lid is inposition, as well as reverse limit control relay contact 177-2 (line 3)and control relay contact 185-1 (line 3) of a lid position control relay185 (line 2). Normally open lid pickup mechanism contact 173-2 (line 5)closes and seals in the lid pickup mechanism control relay 173 throughnormally closed control relay contact 186-1 (line 5) of forward limitcontrol relay 186 (line 7). Normally open lid pickup mechanism contact173-3 (line 33) closes energizing solenoid valve 187 (line 33) and suchsolenoid valve introduces fluid under pressure into cylinder 98 tooperate the lid pickup mechanism 87. Normally open lid pickup mechanismcontact 173-4 (line 27) closes to energize the stepper relay through lidposition control relay contact -2 (line 27), lid sensor contact 188-1(line 26) oflid sensor control relay 188 (line 16), the second stepperwafer 182, down control relay contact 189-1 (line 26) of a down controlrelay 189 (line 17), down limit control relay contact 190-1 (line 26) ofdown limit control relay 190 (line 6), timing relay contact 179-1 (line26) and normally open timing relay contact 178-2 (line 26). The stepperrelay 180 then moves wafers 181 and 182 to the second position.

In this position the first wafer 181 energizes a carriage forwardcontrol relay 191 (line 18) through normally open upper limit controlrelay contact 164-2 (line 18). Normally closed carriage forward relaycontact 191-1 (line 38) opens and de-energizes the carriage reversesolenoid valve 169 (line 37). At the same time, normally open carriageforward relay contact 191-2 (line 35) closes energizing carriage forwardsolenoid valve 192 (line 35). This causes fluid to be introduced intothe cylinder 85 to move the carriage to the forward position where thelid pickup mechanism 87 is located above the ready pickup station 88.

As the carriage leaves the reverse position, the reverse limit switch176 (line 8) opens de-energizing reverse limit control relay 177 whichin turn de-energizes timing relays 178 and 179 (lines 30 and 31respectively). When the carriage reaches the forward position, forwardlimit switch 193 (line 7) is closed by the carriage 82 so that theforward limit control relay 186 is energized. Normally open forwardlimit control relay contact 186-2 (line 36) closes sealing in solenoidvalve 192 (line 35) which controls the movement of the carriage 82.Normally closed forward limit relay contact 186-1 (line 5) opens andde-energizes lid pickup mechanism control relay 173 (line 3) which inturn opens lid pickup mechanism relay contact 173-3 (line 33) and openssolenoid valve 187 (line 33). This releases the lid from the clampingmembers 91 and permits the lid to drop by gravity onto the ready pickupstation 88.

When the lid falls onto the ready pickup station, it engages and closesready pickup station limit switch 194 (line 2). Normally open forwardlimit relay contact 816-3 (line 29) closes and energizes timing relays178 and 179 and the stepper relay 180 through normally closed resetcontrol relay contact 183-1 (line 30) and causes the stepper relaywafers 181 and 182 to move to the third position. After a l/lO seconddelay, normally closed timing relay contact 178-3 (line 29) opens andde-energizes the stepper relay 180 and closes normally open timing relaycontact 178-2 (line 26). After another l/ 10 second delay, normally opentiming relay contact 179-1 (line 26) closes and energizes stepper relay180 through normally closed reverse limit control relay contact 177-4(line 26), normally closed lid sensor control relay contact 188-l, thethird stepper contact, normally closed down control relay contact 189-1,normally closed down limit control relay contact 190-1 (line 26), andtiming relay contact 178-2 which closed previously. It is noted that lidsensor control relay contact 188-1 is closed because there is no lid inthe lid holding mechanism 110. The stepper relay 180 then moves to afourth position.

in the fourth position of the stepper relay, carriage reverse controlrelay 166 (line is energized through upper limit control relay contact164-1 and the carriage moves to the reverse position, as previouslydescribed. As the carriage moves from the forward position, forwardlimit switch 193 (line 7) opens and deenergizes forward limit controlrelay 186. When the carriage reaches the reverse position, reverse limitswitch 176 (line 8) closes and energizes reverse limit control relay177.

When reverse limit control relay 177 is energized, reverse limit relaycontact 177-2 (line 3) closes and energizes lid position control relay185 through ready pickup station limit switch 194 which closed when thelid dropped onto the ready pickup station 88. Normally open reverselimit control relay contact 177-1 (line 30) closes and movesthe stepperrelay 180 to the first position. After a two-tenths second delay, timingrelay contact 179-2 (line 17) closes and energizes down control relay189 (line 17) through the first wafer 181, lid position control relaycontact 185-2 (line 17), which closed when the carriage returned to thereverse position, and lid sensor control relay 188-2 (line 17 Normallyopen down control relay contact 189-2 (line 17) closes and seals in downcontrol relay 189 (line 17). Normally open down control relay contact189-3 (line 32) closes energizing the down solenoid valve 195 (line 32).This causes the lid holding mechanism 110 to move down to pick up thelid 65 from the ready pickup station 88.

When the lid holding mechanism 110 reaches the extreme Down position,the trigger 148 closes down limit switch 154 (line 6) energizing downlimit control relay 190 (line 6). When down limitrelay 190 is energized,normally open down limit relay contact 190-2 (line 23) closes energizinga lid pickup control relay 196 (line 23) and the lid pickup solenoidvalve 197 (line 24). Solenoid valve 197 introduces fluid under pressureinto fluid cylinders 135 and 140 to pivot the fingers 130 about the endof the skirt 129 so that the fingers are disposed below thelid 65 onthe-ready pickup station. Lid pickup control relay contact 196-1 (line24) closes and seals in the lid pickup solenoid valve 197.

When a lid 65 is in the lid holding mechanism 110, the probe 153 closesthe limit switch 152 (line 16) and energizes lid sensor control relay188 (line 16). Normally closed down limit control relay contact 190-1(line 26) opens and normally open down limit control relay contact 190-3(line 28) closes energizing the stepper relay 180 through normally opentiming relay contacts 179-1 and 178-2 (line 26) so that the stepperrelay moves to the second position.

In this position, normally closed lid sensor contacts 188-1 (line 26)and 188-2 (line 17) open, and normally open lid sensor contacts 188-3(line and 188-4 (line 19) close. When the stepper relay 180 moves fromthe first position, it de-energizes down control relay 189 (line 17)which in turn de-energizes solenoid valve 195 so that the lid holdingmechanism 110 returns to the Up position.

When the lid holding mechanism 110 returns to the Up position, trigger155 closes the up limit switch 156 (line 9)v and energizes upper limitcontrol relay 164. This causes the carriage 82 to move to the forwardposition by energizing carriage forward control relay 191 (line 18)which de-energizes solenoid valve 169 (line 37) and energizes solenoidvalve 192, as previously described.

When the carriage 82 again leaves the reverse position, it opens reverselimit switch 176 (line 8) deenergizing control reverse limit relay 177and resetting timing relays 178 (line 30) and 179 (line 31). Uponreaching the forward position, the carriage actuates forward limitswitch 193 (line 7) energizing forward limit control relay 186 causingthe stepper relay 180 to move to the third position. At this time lidsensor control relay 188 (line 16) is still energized by a lid 65 in thelid holding mechanism and the stepper relay will not be energized againuntil a box 31 is located in the box positioning section 28 of the boxconveyor 26.

To energize the box conveyor 26, the box feed control switch 199 (line39) is moved to the automatic position and the box conveyor switch 200(line 43) is moved to the On position. If there is no box located in thein-feed section 27, or the box positioning section 28 of the boxconveyor, box conveyor control relay 201 (line 41) is energized throughthe normally closed infeed conveyor limit switch 202 (line 41) and thebox positioning section clutch 41 (line 39) is energized through boxhold control relay contact 203-1 (line 39) of box hold control relay 203(line 11) which is normally closed. Normally open box conveyor controlrelay contact 201-l (line 43) closes and energizes the box conveyormotor 32 starting the box conveyor 26. Box conveyor control relay 201(line 41) is sealed in by a box in-feed limit switch 204 (line 40),normally closed box hold control relay contact 203-2 (line 40) andnormally open box conveyor control relay contact 201-2 (line 40).

When the box conveyor 26 is in operation, a box moves through thein-feed section 27 and onto the box positioning section 28 until itcloses normally open box positioning limit switch 205 (line 11). Whenbox positioning limit switch 205 closes, it energizes box hold controlrelay 203 (line 11) through normally closed box out-feed reset controlcontact 206-1 (line 12) of box out-feed reset control relay 206 (line14). When box hold control relay 203 (linell) is operated, normallyclosed box hold relay contact 203-l (line 39) opens de-energizing theclutch 41 and stopping the box positioning section 28. Normally closedbox hold control relay contact 203-2 (line 40) and box limit switch 204(line 40) both open clearing the seal in the circuit to box conveyorcontrol relay 201, however, the relay remains energized and the in-feedsection 27 of the box conveyor continues to run until another boxactuates in-feed conveyor limit switch 202 (line 41) at which time thebox conveyor motor 32 stops.

When a box 31 is located on the box positioning section 28 and the boxpositioning limit switch 205 is energized, normally open box holdcontrol relay contact 203-3 (line 10) closes and seals in box holdcontrol relay 203. Normally open box hold relay contact 203-4 (line 34)closes and energizes solenoid valve 207 (line 34). Operation of thesolenoid valve 207 causes fluid under pressure to be introduced into thefluid cylinder 62 to operate the end-engaging pads 49 and sideengagingpads 55 to locate the box in a predetermined position. Normally open boxhold control relay contact 203-5 (line 19) closes energizing downcontrol relay 189 (line 17) through the first wafer 181 of the stepperrelay, normally open lid sensor control relay contact 188-4 (line 19)and timing relay contact 179-2 (line 17). Normally open down controlrelay contact 189-3 (line 32) closes energizing the down solenoid valve195 and causes the lid holding mechanism 110 to move down and place alid on the box.

When the lid holding mechanism 110 reaches the Down position, thetrigger 148 closes down limit switch 154 (line 6) and energizes downlimit control relay 190 (line 6). Normally open down limit control relaycontact 190-4 (line 13) closes and energizes box outfeed reset controlrelay 206 (line 14) through normally open forward limit control relaycontact 188-4 (line 13) which closed when the carriage reached theforward limit switch 193 (line 7). Normally open down limit controlrelay contact 190-3 (line 28) closes and energizes stepper relay 180(line 26) causing it to move to the fourth position. Normally open boxout-feed reset control relay contact 206-2 (line 15) closes and seals inrelay 206 through the box out-feed limit switch 208.

When the stepper relay 180 moves the wafers 181 and 182 to the fourthposition, down control relay 189 (line 17) is de-energized. Normallyopen down control relay contact 189-3 (line 32) opens de-energizingsolenoid valve 195 (line 32) and cap holding mechanism 110 goes to theUp position. I

When the lid holding mechanism 110 reaches the Up position, the trigger155 closes up limit switch 156 and energizes upper limit control relay164. Normally closed upper limit control relay contact 164-3 (line opensand de-energizes box hold control relay 203 (line 11) which in turnde-energizes solenoid valve 207 (line 34) which releases the box.

When the box is released, limit switch 204 (line 40) closes andenergizes box conveyor control relay 201 (line 41) through normallyclosed contact 203-2 (line 40) and normally open in-feed conveyor limitswitch 202. This causes the conveyor motor 32 to start and drive the boxonto the out-feed conveyor section 29. As the box moves clear of the boxpositioning section 28, it strikes the box-out limit switch 208 (linewhich opens and de-energizes box out-feed reset control relay 206 (line14).

When the lid holding mechanism 110 reaches the Up position and energizesupper limit control relay 164 (line 9) it energizes carriage reversecontrol relay 166 (line through normally open upper limit relay contact164-1 (line 20) and the carriage reverse control relay 166 in turnenergizes solenoid valve 169 (line 37) and causes the carriage to moveto the reverse position. Upon reaching the reverse position, thecarriage closes reverse limit switch 176 (line 8) and energizes reverselimit control relay 177 (line 8). Reverse limit relay contact 177-1(line closes and causes the stepper relay 180 to move the wafers 181 and182 to the first position ready to repeat another cycle.

The carriage 82 remains in the reverse position until a lid actuateslimit switch 80 (line 4) at which time the operation is repeated.Sequency interlocking is provided so that the mechanism cannot attemptto place a lid on a box if there is no box at the box positioningsection. Also the lid holding mechanism 110 cannot pick up another lidfrom the ready pickup station until a lid within the lid holdingmechanism has been placed on a box.

In the operation of the device, one or more filled boxes 31 are movedalong the box conveyor 26 until the first box is located on the boxpositioning section 28 at which time the fluid cylinder 62 is operatedto rotate the disk 53 and move the box-engaging pads 49 and 55 intoengagement with the box. Pads 49 and 55 move the box to a predeterminedposition.

The carriage 82 is retracted to a reverse position along the tracksuntil the lid pickup mechanism 87 at the rear of the carriage is locatedabove the lid holding station 76 and the lid holding mechanism 110 atthe front of the carriage is located above the ready pickup station 88.In this position, the fluid cylinder 98 at the lid pickup station 87 isoperated to move the members 91 into clamping engagement with a lid atthe lid holding station. Simultaneously the cylinders 117 are operatedto lower the lid holding mechanism 110 until the outwardly extendingportion 151 of the trigger 148 engages the lower limit switch 154.During the descent of the lid holding mechanism, the pressure plates 125engage the upper flat surface 66 of the lid 65 at the ready pickupstation 88. Continued downward movement of the lid holding mechanism 110causes the springs 128 to be compressed and causes the probe 153 toengage the lid and close the lid sensor switch 152. When the lower limitswitch 154 is closed, fluid under pressure is introduced into thecylinders 135 and 140 to pivot the fingers 130 inwardly about the lowerextremity of the skirt 129 so that such fingers are located below theflange 67 at all four sides of the lid 65.

After the fingers are extended, the direction of movement of thecylinders 177 is reversed so that the lid holding mechanism 110 travelsupwardly and the fingers 130 engage the bottom edge of the lid flange 67and remove the lid from the ready pickup station. In this position, thepressure plates 125 are still in engagement with the top of the lid sothat such lid is clamped between the fingers 130 and the pressure plates125. The carriage 82 then is moved to its forward position at which timethe fluid cylinder of the lid pickup mechanism 87 at the rear end of thecarriage is operated in a reverse direction to release the lid from theclamping plates 91 and permit such lid to fall by gravity onto the readypickup station 88. Simultaneously the fluid cylinders 117 are suppliedwith fluid under pressure to lower the lid holding mechanism and the lid65 carried thereby until the trigger 148 engages the lower limit switch154 to stop downward travel of the lid holding mechanism.

During the downward movement of the lid holding mechanism 110, thefingers 130 engage the top of the box 31 which is held in position bythe box positioning apparatus 48 and guide the lid 65 onto the box. Justbefore the trigger 148 engages the lower limit switch 154, the lowersurface of the flat upper portion 66 of the lid engages the upper edgeof the box. Continued downward movement of the lid holding mechanism 110further compresses the springs 128 since the pressure plates arestopped. The lid holding mechanism 110 continues downward movement untilthe fingers are clear of the lower edge of the flange 67. When the lowerlimit switch 154 is closed, fluid cylinders and are energized to retractthe fingers 130 so that the inner ends of the fingers are located belowand generally in alignment with the ring 121. The flow of fluid to thecylinders 117 is reversed to raise the lid holding mechanism 110. Duringthe initial upward movement,

the pressure plates 125 are urged downwardly by the springs 128 so thatthe pressure plates hold the lid on the box while the lid holdingmechanism 110 is moving upwardly. After short upward movement of thelid. holding mechanism, the stops 127 of the pressure plates engage thesupport members 119 so that the pressure plates are raised with the lidholding mechanism. When the lid holding mechanism reaches its upperextremity, the upper limit switch 156 is closed'by the trigger 155 whichinterrupts the flow of fluid to the cylinders 117 and introduces fluidinto the cylinder 85 to move the carriage 82 rearwardly to its rearmostposition, and the process is repeated.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for automatically placing a lid on a box, said apparatuscomprising a frame, meansfor intermittently moving a box to a boxpositioning station associated with said frame, means for positioningand holding the box in a fixed predetermined position. at said boxpositioning station, a lid pickup station located adjacent to saidframe, means for supplying a preformed lid having an uppper portion anda downwardly extending lower portion to said lid pickup station,carriage means movably mounted on said frame, lid holding mechanismcarried by said carriage means, means for raising and lowering said lidholding mechanism relative to said carriage means, means on said lidholding mechanism for positively engaging the upper and lower portionsof said lid, and means on said frame for moving said carriage means sothat the lid carried by said lid holding mechanism overlies and isin-alignment with the box at said box positioning station, whereby saidlid holding mechanism is operated to remove a lid from said lid pickupstation, said carriage means is moved along said frame until the lid isdisposed above said. box, and thereafter said lid holding'mechanism islowered to place the lid on the box while the box is in fixed position.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which said means for positively engagingsaid lid includes pressure plate means resiliently engaging the upperportion of the lid, and a plurality of movable finger means for engagingthe lower portion of the lid selectively.

3. The structure of claim 1 including a lid holding station locatedadjacent to said frame, means for supplying lids to said lid holdingstation, a lid pickup mechanism carried by said carriage means in aposition remote from said lid holding mechanism, and means on said lidpickup mechanism for selectively engaging a lid at said lid holdingstation, whereby when said carriage means is moved along said frame saidlid pickup mechanism places the lid from said lid holding station ontosaid lid pickup station.

4. The structure of claim 3 in which said means for selectively engagingthe lid at said lid holding station includes a pair of clamping membershingedly mounted on opposite sides of said carriage means, and fluidcylinder means for operating said clamping members simultaneously.

5. The structure of claim 4 in which said means for supplying lids tosaid lid holding station includes conveyor means, and means forinterrupting movement of said conveyor means when a lid is located atsaid lid holding station and operating said conveyor means after a lidhas been removed from said lid holding station.

6. The structure of claim 1 in which said means for positioning andholding the box at said box positioning station includes a plurality ofpad means, and means for selectively moving said pad means intoengagement with the sides of said box to move the box to a predeterminedposition.

7. The structure of claim 6 in which said means for intermittentlymoving a box includes a conveyor for boxes, a frame supporting said boxconveyor, said pad means being hingedly mounted on said conveyor frame,a disk rotatably mounted on said conveyor frame, link means connectingeach of said pads to said disk, and means for rotating said diskselectively, whereby said pad means are operated simultaneously to movea box to a predetermined position.

8. The structure of claim 7 in which said box conveyor includes anin-feed section for supplying boxes to said box positioning station, andan out-feed section for removing boxes from said box positioning stationafter a lid has been placed on the box.

9. The structure of claim 8 including switch means on said in-feedsection for operating said conveyor after a box has been moved to saidbox positioning station.

10. The structure of claim 1 in which said lid holding mechanismincludes a housing, ring means adjustably supported by said housing,operating means carried by said housing for moving said ring meansrelative to said housing, pressure plate means carried by said ringmeans, said pressure plate means being resiliently mounted for limitedmovement, a plurality of finger means swingably carried by said ringmeans, and means I on said ring means for selectively moving said fingermeans to engage a lid.

11. The structure of claim 10 in which said ring means includes adownwardly and outwardly extending skirt for supporting said pluralityof fingers, sa'id fingers being located outwardly of the inner surfaceof said ring means in retracted position and having portions whichextend inwardly of the inner surface of said ring means to a position toengage the lower portion of a lid when the fingers are operated. I

12. Apparatus for automatically placing a lid on a box, saidapparatuscomprising a frame, first conveyor means for moving a box to abox positioning station ad'- jacent to said frame, means for positioningand holding the box in-a fixed predetermined position at said boxpositioning station, a lid ready pickup station mounted on said frame, alid holding station located adjacent to one end of said frame, secondconveyor means for supplying preformed lids having an upper portion anda downwardly extending lower portion to said lid holding station, acarriage movably mounted on said frame, said carriage having a lidholding mechanism at one end and a lid pickup mechanism at the oppositeend, said lid pickup mechanism including selectively operable clampingmeans for engaging a lid at said lid holding station and placing saidlid on said ready pickup station when the carriage is moved, means forselectively raising and lowering said lid holding mechanism, said lidholding mechanism including means for positively engaging the upper andlower portions of a lid at said ready pickup station, means for movingsaid carriage so that the lid carried by said lid holding mechanism isin alignment with the box at said box positioning station and can beplaced thereon by said raising and lowering means, and means fortemporarily holding the lid on crating said second conveyor means, limitswitch means for interrupting operation of said second conveyor when alid is located at said lid holding station and energizing said operatingmeans when the lid has been removed from said lid holding station bysaid lid pickup mechanism.

15. The structure of claim 12 including guide means at said lid holdingstation for locating lids on said second conveyor means in apredetermined position.

1. Apparatus for automatically placing a lid on a box, said apparatuscomprising a frame, means for intermittently moving a box to a boxpositioning station associated with said frame, means for positioningand holding the box in a fixed predetermined position at said boxpositioning station, a lid pickup station located adjacent to saidframe, means for supplying a preformed lid having an uppper portion anda downwardly extending lower portion to said lid pickup station,carriage means movably mounted on said frame, lid holding mechanismcarried by said carriage means, means for raising and lowering said lidholding mechanism relative to said carriage means, means on said lidholding mechanism for positively engaging the upper and lower portionsof said lid, and means on said frame for moving said carriage means sothat the lid carried by said lid holding mechanism overlies and is inalignment with the box at said box positioning station, whereby said lidholding mechanism is operated to remove a lid from said lid pickupstation, said carriage means is moved along said frame until the lid isdisposed above said box, and thereafter said lid holding mechanism islowered to place the lid oN the box while the box is in fixed position.2. The structure of claim 1 in which said means for positively engagingsaid lid includes pressure plate means resiliently engaging the upperportion of the lid, and a plurality of movable finger means for engagingthe lower portion of the lid selectively.
 3. The structure of claim 1including a lid holding station located adjacent to said frame, meansfor supplying lids to said lid holding station, a lid pickup mechanismcarried by said carriage means in a position remote from said lidholding mechanism, and means on said lid pickup mechanism forselectively engaging a lid at said lid holding station, whereby whensaid carriage means is moved along said frame said lid pickup mechanismplaces the lid from said lid holding station onto said lid pickupstation.
 4. The structure of claim 3 in which said means for selectivelyengaging the lid at said lid holding station includes a pair of clampingmembers hingedly mounted on opposite sides of said carriage means, andfluid cylinder means for operating said clamping members simultaneously.5. The structure of claim 4 in which said means for supplying lids tosaid lid holding station includes conveyor means, and means forinterrupting movement of said conveyor means when a lid is located atsaid lid holding station and operating said conveyor means after a lidhas been removed from said lid holding station.
 6. The structure ofclaim 1 in which said means for positioning and holding the box at saidbox positioning station includes a plurality of pad means, and means forselectively moving said pad means into engagement with the sides of saidbox to move the box to a predetermined position.
 7. The structure ofclaim 6 in which said means for intermittently moving a box includes aconveyor for boxes, a frame supporting said box conveyor, said pad meansbeing hingedly mounted on said conveyor frame, a disk rotatably mountedon said conveyor frame, link means connecting each of said pads to saiddisk, and means for rotating said disk selectively, whereby said padmeans are operated simultaneously to move a box to a predeterminedposition.
 8. The structure of claim 7 in which said box conveyorincludes an in-feed section for supplying boxes to said box positioningstation, and an out-feed section for removing boxes from said boxpositioning station after a lid has been placed on the box.
 9. Thestructure of claim 8 including switch means on said in-feed section foroperating said conveyor after a box has been moved to said boxpositioning station.
 10. The structure of claim 1 in which said lidholding mechanism includes a housing, ring means adjustably supported bysaid housing, operating means carried by said housing for moving saidring means relative to said housing, pressure plate means carried bysaid ring means, said pressure plate means being resiliently mounted forlimited movement, a plurality of finger means swingably carried by saidring means, and means on said ring means for selectively moving saidfinger means to engage a lid.
 11. The structure of claim 10 in whichsaid ring means includes a downwardly and outwardly extending skirt forsupporting said plurality of fingers, said fingers being locatedoutwardly of the inner surface of said ring means in retracted positionand having portions which extend inwardly of the inner surface of saidring means to a position to engage the lower portion of a lid when thefingers are operated.
 12. Apparatus for automatically placing a lid on abox, said apparatus comprising a frame, first conveyor means for movinga box to a box positioning station adjacent to said frame, means forpositioning and holding the box in a fixed predetermined position atsaid box positioning station, a lid ready pickup station mounted on saidframe, a lid holding station located adjacent to one end of said frame,second conveyor means for supplying preformed lids having an upperportion and a downwardly extending lower porTion to said lid holdingstation, a carriage movably mounted on said frame, said carriage havinga lid holding mechanism at one end and a lid pickup mechanism at theopposite end, said lid pickup mechanism including selectively operableclamping means for engaging a lid at said lid holding station andplacing said lid on said ready pickup station when the carriage ismoved, means for selectively raising and lowering said lid holdingmechanism, said lid holding mechanism including means for positivelyengaging the upper and lower portions of a lid at said ready pickupstation, means for moving said carriage so that the lid carried by saidlid holding mechanism is in alignment with the box at said boxpositioning station and can be placed thereon by said raising andlowering means, and means for temporarily holding the lid on the boxwhile said means for positively engaging the lid is released.
 13. Thestructure of claim 12 including means for operating said first conveyormeans to move a box adjacent to said box positioning station, limitswitch means for interrupting operation of said first conveyor when abox is located adjacent to said box positioning station and energizingsaid operating means when the box on said conveyor means has been movedto said box positioning station.
 14. The structure of claim 12 includingmeans for operating said second conveyor means, limit switch means forinterrupting operation of said second conveyor when a lid is located atsaid lid holding station and energizing said operating means when thelid has been removed from said lid holding station by said lid pickupmechanism.
 15. The structure of claim 12 including guide means at saidlid holding station for locating lids on said second conveyor means in apredetermined position.